We take personal data protection seriously. Therefore, we make use of market leaders in data encryption, pCloud et Proton, to provide cloud storage solutions for Patterson Mills. Both of these companies are based in Switzerland and comply with the strictest data privacy laws. We aim to store all information within EU or Switzerland based servers wherever possible. Where this may not be possible, for example, is through the use of the services from Microsoft, for which Microsoft may process data outside of the EU or Switzerland (for example, in the US), whilst still enforcing secure data protection.

pCloud Storage

pCloud’s security approach focuses on making sure your data is safe and you are as much in control as possible. Our data region selected with pCloud is where your files and personal data are stored – in this case the European Union (Luxembourg).

The data centers used by pCloud have been chosen after intense risk assessment to prove the highest quality and reliability. Their providers are certified under SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type II & SSAE 16 SOC 2 Type II and comply with the highest level of physical and technical security applications such as:

• Multi-tier: Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV
• Еnhanced connectivity: 10+ providers
• Electromagnetic protection concept
• Fire and very early smoke detection (VESDA)
• Neutral gas (nitrogen) fire suppression system
• Water leakage detection
• Intrusion detection
• 24/7/365 on-site security with controlled access
• Dark fiber connectivity

Proton Drive

Proton Drive uses the latest, high-performance elliptic curve cryptography (ECC Curve25519) to secure your files. This advanced encryption is secure against all known attacks and requires less computational power.

Proton Drive relies on the open-source and battle-tested OpenPGP end-to-end encryption standard. Each Proton user has a public key and a private encryption key. Files are encrypted with the public key and can only be decrypted using the private key. Only the user has access to the private key, hence only the user can read the data.

An essential part of maintaining security is knowing if data has been tampered with. Proton Drive uses cryptographic signatures to verify the authenticity of files and folders, meaning that users are able to immediately detect any efforts to tamper with files.

Proton has a global presence in a dozen countries, allowing them to operate 24/7/365. Their security teams continuously monitor their infrastructure for security alerts and take proactive action when they detect attacks against specific user accounts.

This includes warning  the user if an advanced attacker is targeting your account and automatically locking your account if they suspect somebody other than the user has gained illicit access.

Proton Drive uses the highest standards of security. All files are secured using end-to-end encryption, which means no-one, not even Proton, can read a users files. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

Microsoft Services

We utilise Microsoft Azure services to manage and store certain data. Microsoft operates a globally distributed network of data centres designed with a multi-layered approach to security. These data centres are equipped with robust physical protections, including perimeter fencing, 24/7 surveillance, multi-factor access control, and strategically positioned security cameras to monitor sensitive areas. Access to these facilities is tightly controlled, ensuring that only authorised personnel can enter.

Additionally, Microsoft’s data centres are strategically located worldwide to enhance data residency options and ensure compliance with regional regulations. You can explore their Global Infrastructure Map to view data centre locations.